Sydenham High GDST has been celebrating the success of its GCSE students, including an increase in A*s.

Sixty-five per cent of students gained A*-A grades and 29 per cent achieved specifically A*s, with three girls – Sadie Jaffey, Amy Hyam and Ameera Naqvi – all achieving the magic number of ten A* grades. Ninety-six per cent of passes were A-C.

One very happy student was Katie Mills; not only did she achieve two A*s and eight As in her subjects, she has also been awarded a nationally sought-after Arkwright Engineering Scholarship which identifies her as one of the country’s future leaders in engineering and technical design.

The renowned Arkwright Engineering Scholarship will not only provide Katie with a financial award to support her A level studies but also a range of activities to enhance her understanding and experience of engineering. The Scholarship is respected by leading universities and companies and is supported by top employers and organisations such as Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, Microsoft Research and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Katie competed against a field of over 1,300 candidates from across the UK, successfully completing a rigorous selection process including a two-hour aptitude exam and an interview at a top engineering university.

Dr Martin Thomas, Chief Executive of the Arkwright Scholarships Trust*, said: “I am delighted to see a student from Sydenham High School secure this prestigious accolade. Clearly, there is considerable technical talent here. With the competition for rewarding jobs becoming ever-more fierce, the receipt of an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship can help dynamic young people at the start of their journey to be the country’s future leaders in engineering and technical design.”

Kathryn Pullen, Sydenham High’s Headteacher, said: “I am so proud of our girls in achieving these great results against the recent background of change in exams and grading. They’ve worked hard and had tremendous support from their teachers and parents so its congratulations all round. Their achievements are just the beginning of a bright future and a fantastic basis on which to go forward in their education.”

*The Arkwright Scholarships Trust is a charity founded in 1991 that inspires and nurtures future leaders in engineering and technical design